Republicans nationally and in Arizona are taking the brunt of
public disgruntlement with government.

Fair enough. In many places, the GOP has been in charge and
strayed from basic principles of fiscal responsibility. The reason
is too many Republicans don’t really believe in fiscal
responsibility. The net result is Republicans get the rap for
things they didn’t hang tight on. Arizona’s budget is a classic
example.

Majority Republicans had no clear budget agenda acceptable to
enough of themselves to pass much of anything. Democrats were
united in both houses of the legislature and voted unanimously for
a budget supported by Governor Napolitano. In both houses they
picked up enough stray Republicans. Two conclusions are obvious.
Republicans are basically incompetent and unable to unify, and
Democrats are basically irresponsible and wasted their unity on the
worst budget in recent state history.

Democrats could have easily presented something better than
their final product. Fifty-one million dollars for increased
advertising for the lottery with wished-for increases from that
assigned to paying off the billion-plus in bonds that will be
issued for infrastructure at the three universities ignores that
lottery receipts are down everywhere. Just hustle the poor some
more. Time for a cartoon of the Guv as a croupier. Fitz or Benson
could do it only it doesn’t fit their agenda nor that of others in
the mainstream media.

How about speeding tickets as a revenue source, but with no
points so offenders will keep paying? Check the raids on a variety
of state funds, some constitutionally assigned. Surcharges shooters
pay for ammo and hikers and others pay for other items are
supposedly “dedicated sources.” Like they said at Tammany Hall,
another old-line Democrat institution, “what’s the Constitution
between friends?”

The Napolitano / Democrat budget calls for increases in school
district excess utility charges, increases in teacher salaries
equaling about $300 million, and allowing government bonds to fund
a theme park in Eloy. Hardly “frugality” in a tough year. Sleazy
accounting tricks abound.

That budget deadlocks could have some vote for this stinking
compilation of bad and worse is understandable if not forgivable.
To claim it as an accomplishment, as Democrat leaders and
cross-over Republicans have, indicates just how low standards of
governance have sunk, and that taking care of select constituencies
trumps fiscal sanity. It is hardly a testament to the management
and political skills of Gov. Napolitano, and it hints as to what
will happen if Democrats take control of the legislature.

One main cause of this irresponsibility, evident on both sides,
is term limits. Short-term members means short-term thinking.
Constant turnover means weaker leadership.

The role of the governor was key. She had time to forge a better
effort, knowing that a hand full of GOP legislators would be
available at the crunch — as they were. Republicans are attacked
for not wanting to raise taxes for “vital” programs. Democrats are
too craven to advocate the tax increases their “vital” programs
would ultimately necessitate.

Mainstream media’s constant attempt to inflate the abilities of
the governor have given her the necessary cover to go from
advocating massive spending increases to her thug-like approach in
extorting support for certain ballot measures. She could moon the
Pope, and the headlines in the dailies would read “Governor strikes
blow for religious expression.” Politicians are notoriously
narcissistic. The constant fawning she receives will ultimately
weaken her as she begins to believe it herself.

The jury-rigged accumulation of Mickey Mouse measures that makes
up this state budget is her responsibility. She owed her party and
more important, the people of Arizona, a better product.

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Tucson Local Media photographer J.D. Fitzgerald, right, shoots a simulation gun in reaction to a situation during a training put on by the Pima County Sheriff’sDepartment. PCSD invited members of the media to their training center on South Rita Road to further their understanding of use of force protocols. Mediamembers were given a 90-minute lesson on the policies, ethics and laws regarding use of force. To read the full story and to watch the video, visit www.tucsonlocalmedia.com.